Verizon finally gets naked DSL, but is still too modest outside the Northeast

Despite the FCC's ruling that telcos are under no obligation to offer "naked" DSL service (high-speed internet without landline phone, that is), Verizon today announced plans to offer just such an option to consumers (maybe in an attempt to make up for this PR blunder? Who knows.). For now, the availability is limited only to customers in the old Northeastern territory formerly served by Nynex and Bell Atlantic — plus, only current customers who already subscribe to both voice and DSL will be allowed to drop that whole pesky phone business. Senior Verizon executive Tom Tauke said "technical issues" are preventing a nationwide rollout of stand-alone DSL, which could perhaps mean there isn't much infrastructure in place yet to make that arbitrary economic separation between sending voice data and sending computer data over the same line, but what do we know about all this tech stuff. Anywho, at some point it's supposed to roll out nationwide, and be offered to anyone whether current customer or not.

[travis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

haha bitches, i got the first comment

[SHOTT3R @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

haha bitches, I was the first one to call travis an idiot

[Red Forman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

And I am going to call you two dumbasses!

[GamerFr3ak @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

#1

haha bitch, get a f*cking life!!!

[Totalfixation @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

....um ok guys

so does SBC have naked dsl now?

[hafa @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

anyone know what�s the theoretical max bandwidth DSL could achieve ? tks.

[Finishing.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I hope they don't expect to use it inside of their homes

sbc sucks

[Hank @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Funny, I was using naked DSL from Verizon over four years ago in the research triangle park in NC. Most likely they found they were loosing too much revenue so they backed out, only to later vacillate again.

[christopher wanko @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

they can separate DSL from voice rather easily, since naked DSL is just a dry pair of wire. The same ordering that Sloman's and ADT use for burglar alarm connections is used for naked DSL.

And DSL's theoretical limit is 7.1Mps, within 8000 feet.

-C

[Mithras @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I called Verizon to drop my phone service as soon as I caught this story. Get this: no one has told customer service about it. They don't know how to drop your phone service without shutting off the DSL, too. However, they did agree to stop billing me for it until they figure out how to implement the order.

[maknet @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I live in Northern VA and have been using naked DSL from Verizon for the past year.

[Rush @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I called and tried to order too. They told me that the press release was in error and that they didn't know when the New England "test" of naked DSL would begin. Very frustrating. I wish I was as savvy as Mithras (two posts above) - I didn't get the freebie phone line offer.

[telegrok @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

except that according to some reports, Verizon won't sell naked DSL if you drop VRZ to take local service from a CLEC -- coupled with Ivan's "why would you expect your [cell] phone to work inside your house," I guess this leaves you to Vonage

[Bruce @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I called Verizon after I read on April 18th about stand alone DSL. The custer service don't have any idea as to what I was talking about. Seems like they don't inform their own people.

[Bruce @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I called Verizon after I read on April 18th about stand alone DSL. The custer service don't have any idea as to what I was talking about. Seems like they don't inform their own people.